Vending device for matches and other articles



Dec 31, 1935. w. EISENBERG 2,026,378

VENDING DEVICE FOR MATCHES AND OTHER ARTICLES Filed Oct. 9 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l wuc/wbO/v William Eseixbevoo wf/Mi @im O/btowa/l/ Dec. 31, 1935. w. EISENBERG VENDING DEVICE FOR MATCHES AND OTHER ARTICLES 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed 001;. 9, 1955 gmc/WISO@ l 'Willicun Eisenberg mmmmmmmlmm Patented Dec. 31, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VENDING DEVICE FOR MATCHES AND OTHER ARTICLES William Eisenberg, Minneapolis, Minn. I

Application October 9, 1933, Serial No. 692,725

12 Claims.

The present invention contemplates.y the pro-V vision of a receptacle for packets of matches from which a customer may readily help himself and into which he may deposit a coin or coins in payment for the matches he chooses to take.

One object of the invention is to provide an attractive receptacle of the above noted character which is simple, durable and inexpensive in construction and in which the coins are segregated from the packets and collected together in the receptacle.

More specifically it is an objectof the invention to provide a bin-like receptacle having an intersticed bottom and a coin receiver therebeneath, the bottom being adapted to support match packets or other articles and yet permit the coins which filter down through said packets to gravitate into said receiver.

Another object of the invention is to supply two or more compartments within the receptaclevby employing a partition therein, a further object of the invention being to incorporate a coin conduit in said partition for receiving coins and conducting the same tothe coin receiver in which coins from the compartments are collected.

which will appear in the following description,

the invention resides in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in thedetails of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a vending device embodying one form of my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical, central sectional view thereof; Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken as on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a vending device embodying a second form of my invention; Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the form of device shown in Fig. 4 taken as on the line 5-5 of Fig.'6 and Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken as on the line 6--6 of Fig. 5.

Included in the triangular receptacle, shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, are a bottom or base Ill, angularly related walls I I and i2 and upper and lower panels I3 and I4 forming the front of the device.

Centrally disposed within the receptacle is a hollow partition A consisting of spaced upright panels I5, one thereof being secured at its rear edge to the wall II and the other similarly secured to the wall I2. For finishing the upper edge of the partition A, a crown strip I6 formed with a coin slot I1 therein, is secured to the partition panels I5 and' for finishing the'forward edge of said partition a facing strip I8 is provided, the same being `secured to the forward 10 edges of said panels. This facing strip I8 lies iiush with the rear plane of the upper front panel I3, said panel preferably consisting of a plate of glass which is received at its ends in grooves I9 in the Walls II, I2 and which rests at 15` its lower edge on the upper edge of the lower panel I4. The forward edges of the walls II, I2 are cut back toward the top, a cap-piece being secured to the upper edges of said walls. `An intersticed false bottom, includingV two bottom sections 2 I, is provided within the receptacle, said bottom sections being disposed at opposite sides of the partition A and each being similarlyl supported by the walls II, I2, front panel I4 and partition A. VThese false bottom sections 2I may be of wire mesh, as shown, and received at their edges between upper and lower cleats 22 fastened to the walls II, I2 and to the front panel I4 and to the side panels I5 of the partition A.

The receptacle provides upper bin-like compartments above the false bottom sections 2| at either side of the partition A into which packets of matches'or other articles to be vended may be placed, and provides al lower compartment beneath said false bottom sections, the employment of the partition accommodating the device to vending of packets of different sizes or styles in the separate bin-like compartments.

In the use of a device of the present character, some patrons, with little or no instruction, readily understand the present scheme of vending articles and especially so with a coin slot, Vas at I1, available to receive coins in payment for the articles selected. Other patrons, however, even though they are awareof the vending plan and of the presence of a coin slot for the coins, will toss their coins into the compartment from which the articles oi their selection is made.

Accordingly, while the openings in thle wire mesh forming the reticulate false bottom sections 2I are small enough to keep the articles in the upper compartments from passing therethrough, the said openings are sufficiently large to permit of the passage therethrough of coins which are placed in the upper compartments and lter downwardly through the articles therein.

A coin drawer 23 slidable through an opening 24 in the wall I2 and into and out of the lower compartment along the bottom l of the receptacle, receives the coins which gravitate through the false bottom sections 2| and also receives the coins which drop through the hollow partition A after having been inserted into the coin slot I'I therein.

The form of my invention shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 is essentially similar to the form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the receptacle being rectangular in shape rather than triangular and the false bottoms instead of being of reticulate construction comprise imperforate sections 24 which are marginally spaced from the compartment walls. In said second form of my invention, the receptacle includes a back wall 25 as well as end walls 26, and like said rst form it-includes a cap-piece 21, a bottom 28, upper and lower panels 29 and 30 comprising the front of the receptacle, and a hollow partition B including side panels 3i andcrown and facing strips 32 and 33, the former having a coin slot 34 therein. Also, as in the rst form, a coin drawer 35 is supplied, said drawer, however, being slidable into and out of an opening in the back wall 25 of the device. The imperforate sections 24 are rectangular in outline and are struck from sheet metal, each presenting inclined supporting surfaces sloping downwardly from a central point toward their respective edges and, in configuration, resembling la hip-roof. One of the false bottom sections 24 is disposed in each upper compartment, as shown, with its front and back edges spaced from the upper edge of the front panel 30 and from the back wall 25 and with the inner and outer edges thereof spaced from the partition B and from the end wall 26. The marginal spaces thus provided about the false bottom sections 24 are of such dimensions as to permit coins to pass freely therethrough from the upper compartments into the coin drawer 35 and yet prevent the passage of the packets or other articles in the compartments from so doing. Said bottom sections 24 are supported in suitable manner as by means of hanger straps 36 underreaching said sections and secured at their extremities to the partition B and the end walls 26 of the receptacle.

The triangular form of the invention (Fig. 1) is especially adapted for locations at the corners of counters or the like. In either form, the Dresence of the coin slot in the partition invites the patron to deposit therein the appropriate coin or coins and to help himself to the desired articles from either or both of the bin-like compartments. Coins deposited in the coin slot drop through the partition and into the coin drawer. In the cases in which coins are deposited in either of the compartments with the articles contained therein, such coins eventually filter down through the articles and thence pass through the false bottom sections into the coin drawer. From this drawer, the proprietor has ready access to the coins received therein from the two compartments and from thecoin slot in the partition.

Changes in the specic form of my invention, as herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, a receptacle including walls and a partition and providing bin-like compartments at either side 5 of said partition, each compartment having a bottom of intersticed construction consisting of a bottom member supported by the receptacle walls and. partition and marginally spaced therefrom, said bottom member having downwardly inclined surfaces leading to the marginal opening between the said member and said Walls and partition, said compartments serving as containers for articles to be vended and as depositories for coins tendered in payment of the articles selected by purchasers, the bottoms of said compartments being adapted to restrain the articles therein from passing therethrough, but adapted to permit the passage therethrough of coins filtering down between the articles in said compartments, said partition having a passageway therethrough opening at the upper portion thereof for the deposit of coins thereinto and opening at its lower portion for the discharge of coins therefrom, and means beneath said bottoms for receiving the coins discharged through both of the bottoms and through said passageway.

2. In a device of the character described, a receptacle including walls and a partition and providing bin-like compartments at either side of said partition, each compartment having an intersticed bottom of reticulate material secured to said walls and to said partition, said compartments serving as containers for articles to be vended and as depositories for coins tendered in payment of the articles selected by purchasers, the bottoms of said compartments being adapted to restrain the articles therein from passing therethrough, but adapted to permit the passage therethrough of coins filtering down between the 40 articles in said compartments, said partition having a passageway therethrough opening at the upper portion thereof for the deposit of coins thereinto and opening at its lower portion for the discharge of coins therefrom, and means beneath said bottoms for receiving the coins discharged therethrough and through said passageway in said partition.

3. In a device of the character described, a receptacle having a partition and an elevated intersticed bottom therein providing bin-like compartments for containing articles to be vended and for the deposit of coins in payment of the articles selected by a purchaser, said bottom being adapted to restrain the articles in the upper compartments from passing therethrough, but adapted to permit the passage therethrough of coins filtering down between the articles in said compartments, said partition having a coin conduit embodied therein for the deposit of coins there- 6o into, a coin drawer slidably supported by the receptacle structure beneath said intersticed bottom, said drawer being adapted to receive coins from each of said compartments and from said coin conduit. G5

4. In a device of the character described, a receptacle having a partition and an intersticed false bottom therein providing upper bin-like compartments and a lower compartment, the former for containing articles to be vended and for the 7U deposit of coins in payment of the articles selected by a purchaser, said false bottom being adapted to restrain the articles in the upper compartments from passing therethrough, but adapted to permit the passage therethrough of coins 75 filtering down between the articles in said upper compartments, said partition having a passageway therethrough opening at the upper portion thereof for the deposit of coins thereintc, said lower compartment being common to said upper compartments and to the said passageway and serving to receive coins from each thereof.

5. In a device of the character described, a receptacle having a hollow partition and false bottom sections therein at either side of said partition, said receptacle providing upper bin-like compartments for articles to be vended and also a lower coin receiving compartment, said hollow partition having a coin slot in the upper portion thereof for the reception of coins tendered in payment of articles selected by a purchaser and being open at its lower portion to conduct coins therefrom into said lower compartment, said false bottom portions being supported, in part, by said partition.

6. In a device-of the character described, a receptacle formed with a false bottom and a hollow partition therein and providing upper bin-like compartments at either side of said partion kand a lower coin receiving compartment beneath said false bottom, said hollow partition having a coin slot in the upper portion thereof for the reception of coins tendered in payment for articles selected by purchasers from said upper compartments, said hollow partition being open at its lower portion to conduct coins therefrom into said lower compartment.

'7. In a device of the character described, a receptacle having continuous walls and an intersticed bottom of reticulate construction, said receptacle providing a compartment serving as a container for a heap of articles to be'vended and as a depository for coins tendered in payment of the articles selected by a purchaser, said walls being adapted to retain the articles and coins in said compartment laterally of the device, said bottom being adapted to restrain the articles in the compartment from passing therethrough, but adapted to permit the passage therethrough of thecoins filtering down between the heaped articles in said compartment, the structure of one of the walls forming a coin chute accessible at its receiving end above the articles within the receptacle, and means beneath said bottom for receiving the coins passsing therethrough and through said chute.

8. In a device of the character described, a receptacle having continuous walls and an intersticed bottom of reticulate construction, said receptacle providing a compartment serving as a container for a heap. of articles to be vended and as a depository for coins tendered in payment of the articles selected by a purchaser, said walls being adapted to retain the articles and coins in said compartment laterally of the device, said bottom being adapted to restrain the articles in the compartment from passing therethrough, but adapted to permit the passage therethrough of the coins filtering down between the heaped articles in said comparment, a coin chute associated with one of said walls, and means beneath said bottom for receiving the coins passing therethrough and through said chute.

9. In a device of the character described, a receptacle having continuous walls and a bottom of intersticed construction consisting of a bottom member marginally spaced from the receptacle Walls and presenting downwardly inclined surfaces leading toward said walls, said receptacle providing a compartment serving as a container for a heap of articles to be vended and as a depository for coins tendered in payment of the articles selected by a purchaser, said walls being adapted to retain the articles and coins in said compartment laterally of the device, said bottom being adapted to restrain the articles in said com- 5 partment from passing therethrough, but adapted to permit the passage therethrough of coins filtering down between the heaped articles yin said compartment, the structure of one of the walls forming a coin chute accessible at its receiving end above the articles within the receptacle, and means beneath said bottom for receiving the coins passing therethrough and through said chute.

10. In a device of the character described, a receptacle having continuous walls and a bottom of intersticed construction consisting of a bottom member marginally spaced from the receptacle walls and presenting downwardly inclined surfaces leading toward said walls, said receptacle providing a compartment serving as a container for a heap of articles to be vended and as a depository for coins tendered in payment of the articles selected by a purchaser, said walls being adapted to retain the articles and coins in said compartment laterally of the device, said bottoml being adapted to restrain the articles in said compartment from passing therethrough, but adapted to permit the passage therethrough of coins filtering down between the heaped articles in said compartment, a coin chute accessible to a purchaser helping himself to articles in the receptacle, and means beneath said bottom for receiving the coins passing therethrough and through said chute.

ll.. In a device oi the character described, a receptacle having continuous walls and an in tersticed bottom of reticulate construction, said receptacle providing a compartment serving as a container for a heap of articles to be vended and as a depository for coins tendered in payment of the articles selected by a purchaser, said walls being adapted to retain the articles and coins in said compartment laterally of the device, said bottom being adapted to restrain the articles in the compartment from passing therethrough, but adapted to permit the passage therethrough of the coins ltering down between the heaped articles in said compartment, a com chute accessible to a purchaser heiping himself to articles in the receptacle, and means common to said bottom and to said chute for receiving the coins passing through both thereof.

12. In a device of the character described, a receptacle having continuous walls and a bottom member, one of said walls being transparent, said bottom member being marginally spaced from and presenting a downwardly inclined surface leading toward said transparent wall, said receptacle providing a compartment serving as a container for a heap of articles to be vended and as a depository for coins tendered in payment of the articles selected by a purchaser, said walls being adapted to retain the articles and coins in said compartment laterally of the device, the transparent wall serving to exhibit the articles and the coins interspersed therebetween, said bottom being adapted to restrain the articles in said compartment from passing therethrough,

but adapted to permit the passage therethrough r 

